The captain’s cabin of the Golden Vanguard was silent as Prince Mark of Falworth studied the chart yet again. He and his fellow Loreesi in the cabin, Sir Thomas of Torith, had done little else but study every detail they could since coming aboard in Dalmunutha a week ago. Yet his mind was still grappling with the issues of getting his small but capable army ashore on the southern peninsula of Fyrdraca. To that end, he had called the senior Garhim in the expedition into a council, hoping to leverage the experience of a people with a well-deserved reputation for seafaring in the most difficult conditions.

Prince Mark began by reminding all of them what their task was, and its importance. "Gentlemen, as I'm sure you realize, this expedition is about so much more than merely seizing the treasure within the ancient temple on Fyrdraca. It is about denying Lenfald the means to continue in their destructive behavior, and potentially becoming a serious threat to all our great lands. I believe our success will lead to a restoration of what once was, through a peaceful path. I am confident, but there are indeed a few challenges before us."

He turned to the ranking Garhim in the cabin, Goði Joran Holmstrom, and looked at him expectantly. Holmstrom was accompanying the army to the Great Western Isles on the bequest of both King Chartres and Jarl Eindrik. “And now my honorable Goði, I ask for your advice in the matter of the landing. The fastest route to the ruins would be to land around here,” Mark gestured at the chart. “However, the shoreline is reported to consist of small rocky beaches interspaced with stepped cliffs. My Loreesi naval commanders tell me that landing the army here is not possible without great risk to our ships. Are they wrong?”

“May I your Grace?” asked Holmstrom, who leaned over to peer at the chart. He gestured for the second Garhim in the cabin. Hakon Ivarson was a grizzled sailor who originally hailed from the far North, where the clans still lived the old way. His youth had been spent aboard longships, raiding and plundering outlaying islands, often even as far south as the Lenfel coast. After the uprising against the Queen, Ivarson had come to prominence in the Jarl’s service. In recognition of his expertise in coastal raiding, Holmstrom had brought him aboard Prince Mark’s flagship for this council.

The scarred Garheim studied the chart. “If this coastline is accurate, it should not present any issues for a real sailor,” stated Ivarson easily. He clearly wasn’t particularly concerned about the politics of insulting a certain set of Loreesi sailors’ abilities. “Although it will be admittedly difficult in these lumbering ships…. But your commanders are correct in one way, it will be impossible to land the whole army at the same place at the same time.” He paused before continuing, “I’d like to scout the coastline first hand, but I believe it can be done well enough…though those lumbering beasts you brought along do not help the odds of an uneventful landing.” Ivarson was referring to the three war elephants Prince Mark had insisted be part of the expedition.

Mark hesitated, a little taken aback by the complete lack of honorific, or even a modicum of due regard for his position, but in the interest of cooperation he simply nodded. What he did appreciate in Ivarson was the bold confidence he heard in the Garheim sailor.

Ivarson then made a point, somewhat unexpected. “It is a pity we do not have this botanist who was at these ruins along with us for this expedition,” he probed. “His insight into the terrain and conditions we face would be invaluable.”

Goði Holmstrom suddenly looked at the ceiling of the cabin uncomfortably, as if it had sprung a leak.

Mark hesitated, as this was a delicate issue due to Gant Warden actually being an Areani agent, not something leadership wanted widely known. Ivarson may be a great sailor but he was not amongst those trusted with such knowledge. Yet Mark hated to lie, ever.

Finally it was Sir Thomas who answered, “It is indeed most unfortunate; we requested his presence but apparently he is…indisposed.”

There was a short pause. Prince Mark changed the subject with an important question. “Now about my elephants…We will be able to land them, yes?”

Now Ivarson frowned. “Aye, we’ll get those beasties ashore, although the affair may not look a pretty sight. But I have no idea why you brought them,” Ivarson answered bluntly. “They cannot be worth their trouble.”

Mark stared hard at the Garhim, but he did see wisdom in Ivarson’s objections. A sailor, especially one from a land without elephants, would hardly understand their value, so the Prince patiently explained, “We need them, I assure you. The ruins are in thick jungle, and we must retrieve the treasure and get out again as quickly as we can. Elephants can cut a path through jungle far faster than any group of men working without them. Once we have secured the gold, they can carry all of it out faster than porters. And let us remember that cavalry is not much use in jungle; in fact they can be disastrous in such terrain.”

Studying both his allies, Mark enthusiastically reassured them, “Please, my Garhim friends, you may be masters of the sea, but I know land warfare well. I have carefully considered these issues, thus my decision to leave our heavy horse behind. And though there shouldn't be any Lenfel force there, we must plan for it. Without our cavalry we Loreesi lose our traditional shock fighting force. If we do find ourselves in a fight, the elephants will ensure it will not last long, I promise you. No Lenfel enjoys the prospect of having to be scraped off the bottom of the feet of an elephant.” He finished with a grin.

Ivarson nodded. Prior to meeting him, the Garhim had been skeptical of Mark of Falworth’s reputation as a brilliant military commander. He had come to this council half expecting to be forced to put up with an arrogant Loreesi aristocrat. The Prince’s patient and positive attitude, together with his willingness to listen to Ivarson's advice, did indeed impress the grizzled Garhim sailor. Against his better judgment Ivarson found himself upbeat about the excursion, including its leader.

Sailing quietly in the night on a westerly course, the small but efficient Loreesi-Garhim fleet moved closer to their objective in the Great Western Isles….

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Next Global Storyline Update should be up soon, hopefully next weekend!SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

Post by Sir Daren on Jan 7, 2017 22:16:11 GMT -8

Love it! The only part that bugs me is that I cannot already read the next part! I am that person who, when really really into a good story will read half the book or more in a sitting instead of enjoying it

Post by Sir Caelan Munro on Jan 10, 2017 17:06:38 GMT -8

Love it! The only part that bugs me is that I cannot already read the next part! I am that person who, when really really into a good story will read half the book or more in a sitting instead of enjoying it

Well I've got good news for you. Ayrlego is putting the final touches on an outstanding build and I am writing the next update this weekend. Hoping to get it posted by MLK Day!SaveSave

Great Warlord and Champion of LenfaldLenfald Faction Overseer and King's Council